Embryonic stem cells(ESCs),a kind of totipotent cells,can differentiate into cell type of the 3 germ layers.Adult stem cells(ASCs) are pluripotent stem cells,which can self-renew and transdifferentiate into a completely different tissue derivative cells.Thus ASCs can transdifferentiate into germ cells in a certain condition.Great progress has made for the study on human ESCs.However,use of ESCs faces the immunological rejection,oncogenicity and ethical controversies problems,and these limit their uses for treatment of human diseases.On contrast,ASCs can advoid these problems,and they may have a better perspective.Germ cells as carriers of genetic materials,are worth of studying.If male germ cells can be derived from ASCs,this will open the possibilities for the use of these cells for male infertillty in clinical application.In this review,we will introduce the progress on derivation of male germ cells from ESCs and ASCs.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Kuntai Capsule (KC) on the number of retrieved oocytes, the quality of high-quality oocytes and embryos in in vitro fertilization of poor ovarian response (POR) patients.

METHODSTotally 70 POR patients preparing for in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) were randomly assigned to the observation group and the control group, 35 cases in each group. KC was administered to patients in the observation group in the preparation cycle (i.e., three menstrual cycles before IVF-ET) and during the superovulation process. Those in the control group took placebo during this period. Before and after medication the improvement of Shen yin deficiency syndrome (SYDS) was observed in the two groups. The basal follicle-stimulating hormone (bFSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol (E2), anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH), the ratio of FSH to LH, and antral follicle count (AFC) were observed. Besides, the E2 level of a single ovum on the day of HCG injection, the number of retrieved oocytes, the high-quality oocyte rate, and the high-quality embryos were observed.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, the SYDS, decreased bFSH and LH levels, increased ACF numbers, the E2 level of a single ovum on the day of HCG injection, the number of retrieved oocytes, high-quality oocytes, and high-quality embryos were superior in the observation group (P < 0.05). There was no statistical difference in the decreased FSH/LH level (P > 0.05). E2 and AMH increased after medication of KC in the observation group, while they decreased after administration of placebos in the control group. There was statistical difference in the post-pre treatment difference of E2 and AMH between the two groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONKC could increase the number of retrieved oocytes, and elevate the quality of occytes and embryos in the IVF-ET.

Adult ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Embryo Transfer ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Humans ; Oocyte Retrieval ; Oocytes ; drug effects ; Pregnancy

Objective To compare the efficacies of exposure to cigarette smoke alone and in combination with intra-tracheal injection of lipopolysaccharide in establishing rat models of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods A total of 24 8-week-old healthy Wistar rats were randomly divided into 2 model groups and a control group (Group C). The rat COPD models were established by two ways; intratracheal injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) twice + exposure to cigarette smoke for 1 month (Group A), and cigarette smoke inhalation for 80 days only (Group B). The pathologic characteristics of animal models, including the mean lining interval (MLI) and the mean alveoli number(MAN), were determined. The total and different white blood cell counts in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF) and blood samples were determined. Results The rats in the two model groups presented with cough or breathlessness periodically, and the white blood cell counts and neutrophil counts in the peripheral blood and BALF were significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.01). H-E staining showed that the lung tissues of rats in Group A and B had typical pathological features of COPD and emphysema. MLI were significantly higher and MAN were significantly lower in Group A and B than those in group C (both P<0.01), but there was no statistical difference between the two model groups. Group A had more severe inflammatory response in the bronchial and lung tissues than Group B. And Group B was characterized by alveolar overdistension. Conclusion Both the two methods can successfully establish rat COPD model, with its pathophysiological changes similar to those of human COPD, with intra-tracheal injection of lipopolysaccharide being more consistent to the natural development of disease.

Diabetic Neuropathies ; blood ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Nitric Oxide ; blood ; Phytotherapy

Objective To explore the teaching method to improve nursing student's clinical practicing skills. Methods 111 nursing students were divided into observation group (55 cases) and control group (56 cases). The students in observation group were received clinical nursing whole range simulation experiment, while those in control group were received routine method. Results The students in observation group showed high evaluation on experimental results, their scores in final theory exam were higher than that in control group. The teachers showed higher satisfaction for students in ohaservation group. Whereas there were no difference in terms of nursing technique exam between groups. Conclusions Clinical nursing whole range simulation experiment is helpful to shorten the difference between teaching and clinics, make students accommodate the clinical nursing role quickly, and improve their clinical practicing skills.

Objective To construct and express recombinant cecropin B-binding site of luteinizing hormone releasing hormone(CB-LHRH')gene,and to evaluate the anticancer function of CB-LHRH' on human ovarian cancer cell line SKOV3 and human endometrial cancer cell line HEC-1B.Methods The sequence of the cDNA encoding CB-LHRH' was designed,artificially synthesized,verified by DNA sequence analysis and expressed by Bac-to-Bac baculovirus expression system.The expression of CB-LHRH' proteins were identified by western dot blot using rabbit polyclonal antibody against LHRH as the primary antibody.To determine the anticancer effects of the CB-LHRH' protein,ovarian cancer cell line SKOV3 and endometrial adenocarcinoma cell line HEC-1B were treated by different doses of the CB-LHRH' protein.Cell growth inhibition assay was performed using the 2,3-bis(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)5[(phenylamino) carbonyl]-2H-tetrazolium hydroxide(XTT)kit at different times,and cell morphologic changes were observed under the inverted microscope.Results The inhibitory rate of proliferation by CB-LHRH' increased with the increase of dose and time respectively:SKOV3 cell,from(5.03?0.08)% to(53.24 ?1.22)%;HEC-1B cell,from(5.13?0.37)% to(56.16?1.08)%.The inhibitory effect on HEC-1B cell was stronger than that on SKOV3 cell(P

Objective To investigate the hemodynamics and structural effect of rat endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) transplant on pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH) induced by monocrotaline(MCT) in rats.Methods EPCs were identified and marked.Twenty-one days after injection of EPCs,the pulmonary hemodynamic parame- ters,average pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP),right heart index were determined.The vascular endothelial cells and pulmonary vascular structural changes were verified by fluoresccuse microscope.Results Compared with the model,EPCs treatment(n=10) decreased mPAP significantly (mPAP,EPCs:25.9?0.7 mmHg vs model group:29.3?2.2 mmHg,P

Objective To evaluate the neuroprotective effect and possible mechanisms of edaravone(3-methyl-1-phenyl-2-pyrazolin-5-one) in neonatal Harlequin(Hq) mutant mice brain after hypoxia-ischemia brain injury(HIBD) insult.Methods The nine-day-old male Hq mutant mouse pups were assigned randomly either edaravone(n=16) and vehicle(n=17) treatment group.The Hq mice were subjected to left common carotid artery occlusion combined with inhalation 100 mL/L oxygen for 45 minutes.The mice were injected intraperitoneally either with edaravone(10 mg/kg) or equivalent volume of saline immediately after artery occlusion and after hypoxia.Nitrotyrosine and lipid peroxidation formation were evaluated at 3 h and 24 h after hypoxia-ischemia(HI) by using immunohistochemistry staining.Nitrotyrosine formation and caspases activation were evaluated either by immunoblotting or fluorogenic activity measurement at 24 h after HI.Brain injury was evaluated at 72 h by neuropathological score and calculating the infarct volume.Results Brain injury encompassed cortex,hippocampus,striatum and thalamus.Edaravone treatment reduced brain injury significantly in all the brain regions.The total infarct volume was reduced 52.8% in edaravone treatment group compared with vehicle group(P

OBJECTIVEThis research aimed to study the inhibitory effect of xylitol on the growth and acid production of Actinomyces viscosus (A. viscosus).

METHODSWe cultivated A. viscosus in anaerobic conditions with different concentrations (128, 64, 32, 16, 8, and 4 g x L(-1)) of xylitol brain heart infusion liquid medium and determined the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). Subsequently, we measured the pH value of the control group, as well as those of 1/2, 1/4, 1/8 MIC, and MIC concentration groups at 1.5, 3, 6, 12, 24, and 48 h. The Delta pH and OD550 at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 h were calculated. We discovered that the minimum xylitol concentrations suppressed 50% and 90% A. viscosus biofilm formation (i.e., MBIC50 and MBIC90). SPSS 19.0 was used to analyze the collected data, and conclusions were drawn afterward.

RESULTSXylitol inhibited the growth ofA. viscosus at MIC of 64 g x L(-1). After 12 h, the differences of pH value among groups were all statistically significant (P < 0.05), and Delta pH increased when the MIC concentration decreased. Except for the 1/2 MIC and MIC groups, the differences of OD550 among groups had no statistical significance (P>0.05), and OD550 also increased when the MIC concentration decreased. These results imply that the ability ofA. viscosus to grow and produce acid in 1/2 MIC and MIC conditions will be reduced with the increase in xylitol concentration. The value of MIBC50 was 64 g x L(-1), whereas the value of MIBC90 was 128 g x L(-1). This finding indicates that the xylitol medium can restrict A. viscosus biofilm formation.

CONCLUSIONXylitolcan effectively inhibit the growth, adhesion, and acid production ofA. viscosus, protecting teeth from cariogenic bacteria and preventing caries to a certain extent.

Actinomyces viscosus ; Bacteria ; Dental Caries ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Xylitol

Flavonoid naringin is widely distributed in various types of plants and is an important component of herbal Drynaria. In previous studies, Drynaria has been demonstrated to have inhibitory effects on inflammatory responses and bone destruction and exert anabolic effects on bone, has been widely used in the clinical treatment. Naringin, was in the stage of experimental yet. The experimental results have confirmed that naringin suppressed inflammation including arthritis by lowering the expression of inflammatory cytokines, and the mechanism can be explained as reducing the expression of NF-κB. Naringin has been shown to increase osteoblast proliferation by increasing the expression of BMP-2, inhibit osteoclast activity by reducing the expression of RANKL. In animal experimental, naringin was useful for osteoporosis, and the mechanisms are in-depth studies. Research in the field of traditional Chinese medicine and orthopedics, naringin as a explicit material structure in the components of Drynaria, has been concerned about the experimental studies, it is not only prosperity the development of traditional Chinese medicine research,but also ready for clinical studies anti-inflammatory and bone effects of naringin in the future.
Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; pharmacology ; Bone and Bones ; drug effects ; Flavanones ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Osteoblasts ; drug effects ; Osteoclasts ; drug effects ; Osteoporosis ; drug therapy ; Polypodiaceae ; chemistry